Military

a. Combat support elements. They are normally under OPCON or in DS of the AATF in order to ensure the close coordination and continuous, dedicated support required in air assault operations.

b. Determining task organization. The AATFC assigns an element that is attached, under OPCON, or in DS, to one of his subordinate maneuver units when he feels the element could be more effectively controlled or employed by one particular unit, rather than under AATF control. General support is used when the combat support element can best support the operation under centralized control to quickly shift its efforts to the point needed (for example, mortars that are normally used in a general;support role) and when the situation is vague or changing.

c. Basic responsibility to support, No matter what support status the combat support elements are assigned, the AATFC has the responsibility to ensure the combat support units are properly supported by the AATF. Although the AATFC is not required to provide support under the status of DS, GS, or OPCON, it is to his advantage to ensure the CS elements are properly supported. This means providing rations, fuel, and ammunition as required. It also means expediting repair of equipment outside the capabilities of the AATF maintenance unit, The advantage of doing this is to ensure the CS elements are able to continue providing support.

d. Relationship to the AATF staff. The commander of the combat support unit must be both a commander and a special staff officer. This means he commands his unit and provides advice and assistance to the AATFC. He serves as a special staff officer during the planning phase of an operation, providing assistance and advice in the preparation of the operation order. He can also provide advice and assistance during the conduct of the operation, but this is limited since his primary concern is command of his unit.

a. Fire support is the collective and coordinated employment of mortars, field artillery, attack helicopters, close air support, naval gunfire, and other fires in support of battle plans. The mission of the fire support system is to destroy, neutralize, or suppress surface targets in support of air assault operations. It includes suppression of enemy air defenses which is imperative for air assault operations.

b. The AATFC integrates the firepower of mortars, field artillery, close air support, EW, and, when available, naval gunfire, with the maneuver of combat units to defeat the enemy. Fire support enhances the AATF's combat power by:

c. To effectively utilize the fire support assets, the AATFC must have an understanding of the field artillery support relationship. The artillery force commander is the fire support coordinator for the AATF, and the fire support officer is the assistant FSCOORD. Each AATF is provided a fire support element, led by an FSO, from the direct support battalion. In those instances when the AATF is operating independently, it may be necessary to attach an artillery unit (battery or battalion) to provide adequate fire support. Attachment is a nonstandard mission and involves special considerations for the AATF, such as the responsibility to provide security, logistical support, and lift capability to the artillery unit.

d. Fire support planning techniques and measures specific to air assault operations are discussed in Chapters 3 and 4.

e. Appendix F includes a discussion of specialized training required for support of air assault operations.

a. Mortars. Organic to each infantry battalion, they are used to provide close-in direct fire support.

b. Artillery. Supporting artillery must either be positioned well forward to provide fires from the PZ to the objective area, or must be air lifted with the AATF to the objective area.

c. Air defense artillery. Supporting air defense artillery can be called upon to provide direct fire support when the situation demands and the commander so directs.

d. Close air support. In most cases, United States Air Force (USAF) aircraft will be available to provide close air support. Requests for these aircraft are processed through the TAC CP collocated with the AATF.

e. Naval gunfire. Navy cruisers and destroyers provide fire support in coastal areas. Naval gunfire spotters from a United States Marine Corps (USMC) air and naval gunfire liaison company (ANGLICO) may be attached to the AATF to control these fires.

f. Attack helicopters. Because of their mobility and firepower, attack helicopters may be integrated into the fire support plan when conventional field artillery is not available.

a. Fire support planning addresses how fire support is to be used to support maneuver forces. Fire support coordination entails those actions needed to implement plans and manage resources on the battlefield. Although planning and coordination are separated, they overlap and are mutually supporting. If the planning has been done well, the implementation (coordination) will give the commander the support he needs to win. For a discussion of fire support planning and coordination, see Chapter 3, FM 6-20.

b. The planning and coordination process begins when the mission is received or assumed. The AATFC, S3, and the FSO interact throughout the planning sequence, the decision process, and the execution of the mission.

a. AATF fire support element. The fire support element at each AATF (battalion-size) consists of an FSO, assistant FSO, fire support sergeant, and fire support specialists. The FSE, AATF S3 Air, and advisers from the other fire support means are collocated within the AATF TOC for the planning and coordination of fire support. The FSE coordinates and works closely with the brigade FSE, and FSEs of other battalions, the DS field artillery battalion fire direction center (FDC), and S2 and S3, the tactical air control party, aviation liaison officer, S3 Air, the mortar platoon leader, engineer platoon leader, and the company fire support teams. The FSO supervises the operations of the FISTS.

b. Company fire support team. The company fire support team and the forward observer (FO) section provide the fire support planning and coordination for maneuver companies and platoons. The FISTs are provided by the DS FA battalion. Occasionally, firepower control teams for naval gunfire (NGIN and naval air, and forward air controllers for USAF CAS collocate at the company FIST to advise and assist in the use of their assets. The FIST is supervised by an FA lieutenant who serves as the company commander's fire support officer.

a. The depth and detail of fire support planning depend on how much time is available. Many of the actions that occur in response to battle situations are established in SOPs and in fragmentary orders (FRAGO).

b. Fire support planning is continuous and concurrent at all levels. During the battle, planning is concurrent with fire support coordination to implement the fire support plan on the battlefield.

c. The fire support plan outlines the way artillery, mortars, close air support, and naval gunfire are used to complement the scheme of maneuver, and provides instructions for executing those fires. It also details the use of AATF target acquisition assets. It prioritizes targets, matches them with the available fire support systems, and allows fires to be executed quickly (without specific direction from the commander) once the operation starts. An AATF fire support plan should include:

d. During the planning of fire support for an air assault operation, the FSO must consider displacement. When FA can support the AATF from a secure area (without displacement forward of the forward edge of the battle area [FEBA]), it does so. If such support is not feasible, the FSO determines if other fire support is sufficient to accomplish the mission. If other support is not sufficient, it may be necessary to displace the FA into the objective area. When the decision to displace is made, consider that:

e. The fire support plan is developed by the FSO with assistance and input from the Air Force LO, FISTS, heavy mortar platoon leader, S2, and S3. A fire plan is constantly refined or modified as the operation continues. Thus, the fire support plan facilitates responsive fires to the AATF wherever they are needed.

f. A formal and/or informal planning approach at the AATF level is a combined process that uses the principles of both formal (downward) and informal (upward) planning. Initially, the AATF FSO disseminates, in the operation order, a fire support plan to support the AATF. This product usually contains all the elements listed above. The FSO plan is modified as company and/or FIST fire plans are received. The rewritten fire plan is disseminated to each weapon system for execution.

g. To facilitate fire planning, company FSOs normally accompany team commanders to the AATF OPORD briefing. This permits the company FSOs to hear the operational concept simultaneously with their commander. Within minutes after the OPORD, they can get together to develop their fire support plans. This arrangement also allows the AATF FSO to brief the company FSOS on plans the AATFC wants implemented. Written fire plans can be disseminated. Questions can be answered quickly and conflicts can be resolved with minimum confusion.

h. Suppression of enemy air defense is a critical task in fire support to ensure success of the air assault operation and must be planned. Lift helicopters are especially vulnerable to enemy air defenses. Unless there are overriding tactical considerations, enemy air defense is always suppressed. The AATF FSO ensures that all flight routes and suspected enemy ADA sites are targeted with preplanned fires. Suppression of enemy air defense may be executed either as scheduled fires based upon a specific time schedule, or may be fired "on call," based upon the movement of the AATF through predetermined zones or across predetermined phase lines. The FSO is normally located with the AATFC and requires a dedicated fire direction net; he will control the lifting and/or shifting of SEAD fires as directed by the AATFC. Attack helicopter elements providing air assault security will suppress enemy ADA encountered en route. The attack battle team captain should select overmatch positions or fly escort along the flight route to provide immediate suppressive fires. For a complete discussion of these techniques, see FM 6-20.

i. The fire support plan may include any of the following categories of fire designed to complement the AATFC's operation:

a. Effective fire support depends on decentralized execution and coordination. Based upon the AATFC's intent for using fire support, the FSO and FISTs execute the plan during the operation with minimum specific instruction. The FSO's coordination includes all actions required to make the plan work. He:

b. The FSO ensures that the plan developed remains supportable and must immediately inform the AATFC if there is not enough fire support allocated to make the plan work, or if changes are dictated in the plan. To do this, he is forward with the command group during the conduct of the operation. He normally flies with the AATFC when a C² helicopter is used.

c. The FSO keeps abreast of the tactical situation and coordinates all fire support impacting in his zone, including that requested by the AATF. He ensures that fires do not jeopardize troop safety, interfere with other fire support means, or disrupt adjacent unit operations. In this coordination, the FSO can utilize fire support coordinating measures.

d. During the conduct of the operation, shifts in priorities of fire, changes to the fire plan to support a changed scheme of maneuver, and immediate CAS are all handled forward by the FSO and ALO with the command group. The FSE at the TOC continues its planning responsibilities and provides backup support to the command group.

e. TheFSO,inconjunctionwiththeS3Air,coordinatesthefirecontrolactivitiesof the air assault task force (Figure 5-1).

f. Allaviatorsaretrainedtocallforandadjustindirectfires.Airreconnaissanceor attack helicopter unit aeroscouts may be particularly valuable in assisting the AATFC and the FSO in coordinating or adjusting indirect fires because they are normally in the best position to see the battlefield.

a. Range for artillery and other fire support systems. With the extended distances anticipated, the challenge for the FSCOORD is to position fire support systems so that they can range (place fire) and mass (concentrate fire) on targets within the AATF area of operations. When the AATF must operate out of artillery range, there is a greater dependence on CAS, attack helicopters, and mortars.

b. Importance of the target. Artillery is positioned to range those targets considered critical to the maneuver commander. For high value targets, the commander and the FSCOORD may consider moving artillery by helicopter to strike deep in the enemy's rear by firing across-FLOT raids or displacing laterally in sector.

c. Airlift assets. The mobility of the 105-mm direct support artillery battalion is one of its major characteristics. In taking advantage of its mobility to weight the operation, the commander must consider the cost of aircraft assets. To reposition the firepower of the DS battalion by air will normally require one aircraft (UH-60 or CH-47) per howitzer. The CH-47D can slingload two or more M1028 simultaneously. Additional aircraft must be committed to movement of vehicles and supplies necessary to support the mission.

d. Risk in crossing lines. A major consideration in planning air assault artillery operations is the risk in crossing enemy lines. The value of the target is weighed against the chances of survivability. Once the risk of crossing lines is considered, the FSCOORD must evaluate the survivability of the unit on the ground and during extraction.

e. Target location. For air assault operations, accurate LZ and target locations are essential. Accuracy of locations determines accuracy of fires and often targets will be engaged with unobserved fires.

f. Pickup zone and/or landing zone. Artillery displacements require PZs and LZs large enough to position equipment. When the unit arrives at the LZ, it must be secured and capable of supporting the unit that will most likely use the LZ as a firing point.

g. Ammunition. The amount of ammunition to be made available has a major impact on artillery support. When planning indirect fire support, the FSCOORD must consider the amount of ammunition required and the availability of transportation assets. Artillery ammunition supply operations will place a significant burden on aviation assets available to the AATF.

h. Communications. In the employment of field artillery, the ability to maintain communications is a requirement. The supporting unit must be within radio range of the supported unit to receive the call for fire (this is of particular concern when positioning the M198 with its maximum range of 30 kilometers). Unless unavoidable, the firing batteries must be within communications range of their parent battalion.

i. Security. The AATF artillery must rely on either terrain positioning or attachment of infantry to provide for security. The need for security forces is essential when FA units accompany the AATF across-FLOT.

a. The type of howitzer likely to participate in air assault operations is the towed 105-mm howitzer. Characteristics of the weapon, and 105-mm-equipped units, are listed below:

b. TheMI98howitzermayalsobeavailableforsupportofairassaultoperations.1t is a 155-mm towed howitzer with a maximum range of 18,100 meters (30,000 meters with rocket assisted projectiles [RAP]). The M198 is movable by CH-47 C&D model aircraft. The 155-mm has a greater versatility in ammunition (HE, ILLUM, ICM, WP, HC, remote antiarmor mine system [RAAMS], area denial artillery munition [ADAM], dual-purpose improved conventional munitions [DPICM], chemical, nuclear [NUC]) with a bursting radius of 50 meters.

a. The joint attack air team (JAAT) is a combination of US Army attack helicopters and US Air Force close support aircraft (normally A-10 jet tactical aircraft) operating together to locate and attack high priority, lucrative targets. The JAAT normally operates in concert with field artillery or mortars, air defense artillery, and ground maneuver forces. Information flowing between the AATFC, the attack helicopter team leader, and the forward air controller (FAC) optimizes the effectiveness of attack helicopter teams and attack fighter flights in destroying the enemy force.

b. The JAAT can provide the AATFC with a highly mobile, extremely lethal tank-killing force capable of engaging enemy forces beyond the range of other antitank weapons. The JAAT can destroy or disrupt enemy formations and provide vital intelligence about enemy strengths and locations. By simultane ously employing attack helicopters and A-10s against the same target array at the same time, the AATFC increases the lethality and survivability of both systems.

c. When a JAAT is approved and is in direct support of an AATF, it is controlled by the AATFC. Otherwise, it is controlled by the attack helicopter commander or team leader who reports to brigade headquarters.

a. Air defense artillery unit missions are assigned using ADA standard tactical missions. These missions are much like those assigned the field artillery (to include support responsibilities for an ADA unit). They also establish support relationships to the supported unit or to another ADA unit.

b. The missions are general support, general support-reinforcing, reinforcing, and direct support. However, an AATF normally receives an ADA element in DS for close and continuous support. The ADA unit leader positions his weapons as necessary to properly support the AATF. The ADA may be attached, for movement, to infantry in order to facilitate control and security.

a. Weapons free. They may fire at aircraft not positively identified as friendly.

b. Weapons tight. They fire only at aircraft positively identified as hostile according to announced hostile criteria.

c. Weapons hold. They do not fire except in self defense or in response to formal orders.

a. Priorities for air defense within the AATF are established by the AATFC. The senior air defense officer provides advice and makes recommendations based on his analysis of his area of operations to include the terrain, the high performance aircraft, attack helicopter avenues of approach, and all of the assets within his area of operations. The AATFC determines his priorities based upon:

b. Air defense priorities must be established for all periods to include before and after an operation, and would typically include protection for:

a. Categories of support. Combat engineers provide four categories of support: mobility, countermobility, survivability, and general engineering.

b. Command and support relationships. The preferred engineer support relationship is DS; however, to conduct the air assault, engineers should be attached for movement only. During movement, engineers should be organized into squad-size elements and integrated into the air movement of infantry units. Once the movement is completed, the engineers should revert to DS and be task-organized no lower than platoon level.

a. Engineer allocation to the brigade depends on METT-T, but will commonly be one company from the divisional combat engineer battalion. When requirements exceed the capabilities of one company, additional resources from either the division engineer battalion or support corps engineer units may be made available.

b. At the task force level, the number of engineer personnel and their relationship (to the TF) is dependent on METT-T. Even if no support relationship is established, engineers may have assigned missions in the AATF area and coordination must be maintained. This coordination is best effected by detailing an officer and a noncommissioned officer (NCO) from the supporting engineer company to the AATF for the duration of the operation.

c. How to use available assets is an important planning function.

d. Special considerations involve heavy equipment found in engineer battalions, other than air assault or airborne units, which is generally too heavy to be air assaulted. Plans must be made to link up with the equipment later in the operation. If air movable heavy equipment is available to the AATF, their capability is greatly increased; however, resupply of diesel fuel becomes an important planning consideration. Another consideration is the special equipment necessary to slingload engineer equipment (chain leg sets and A-22 bags). This equipment is not normally available from the aviation units but will be provided by the engineer units possessing air movable heavy equipment. When air movable heavy equipment is not available, engineers must be prepared to construct obstacles, barriers, and assist with survivability tasks, by employing hand tools, explosives, and field expedient methods.